Colombo launches joint flood-control operation, 60 blockage points marked for urgent clearing

Several state institutions have begun a special joint operation to control flooding and flash floods in Colombo and its suburbs, with the work now in its second day.

In the operation's initial survey, officials identified 60 points where water drainage paths are blocked and marked them for urgent action. The programme is led by Colombo Mayor Vraie Kelly Balthazar and Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara.

The project covers five electoral divisions under the Colombo Municipal Council: North Colombo, East Colombo, West Colombo, Borella and Central Colombo. Initial work is under way in several areas, including Narahenpita, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatte and Kirulapana.

Personnel from the Sri Lanka Army, the Colombo Municipal Council, the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, the Urban Development Authority and the Road Development Authority are engaged in the work.

Officials said the project will not stop at removing current drainage blockages. Repairs, continuous maintenance and better coordination between institutions are also planned, in an effort to resolve long-standing drainage problems.

Heavy rain on 6 November left many parts of Colombo and its suburbs under water for several hours, severely disrupting transport and daily life. Alongside immediate relief, the operation aims to create a long-term plan to reduce flooding in the capital.

The municipal council said 129 millimetres of rain was recorded in Colombo within a short period yesterday, causing flash floods in many parts of the city. The city's drainage system cannot cope with more than 30 millimetres of rain, the council has said.